Pocketknife



Jan. 2o, 1942. c. R. KEER/"N 2,270,655

POGKETKNIFE Filed Feb. l, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M is? INVENTOR.

/zara Rike/am M ATTORNEY.

Jan. 20, 1942. QR. KEERAN 2,270,655

POCKETKNIFE Filed Feb. l, 1941 2 Sheets--Shee'g24 INVENTOR;

ATTORNEY.

' wieg REE/610724 BY A Patented Jan. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES POCKETKNIFE Charles R. Keeran, Evanston, ill.

Application February 1, 1941, Serial No. 376,944

(Cl. 3--l62') 'My invention relates to pocket knives, and particularly to an improvement on the construction illustrated in Patent No. 1,960,130, dated May 22, 1934, to Trubel.

An object of my invention is to provide locking means in connection with pocket knives of the type illustrated in the foregoing patent in order to avoid both inconvenience and danger to the user.

In the described construction the blade is adapted to slide in the handle and to be held in various adjusted positions, including that of complete enclosure within the handle, by means of a spring-actuated detent operated by an eX- terior projection inthe form of a button. It is not unusual, however, when the article is in the pocket, for pressure to be applied accidentally in such manner that the detent is displaced and the blade caused to project beyond the limits of the handle, with the possibility of injury to the person. Furthermore, it is not unusual when the blade is projected and the knife is in use for pressure to be exerted on the button, due to the grasp of the user, and the blade caused to be displaced.

In the construction hereA disclosed, I provide for locking in any one of the adjusted positions by a simple rotation of the button which may be accomplished in one hand, as the result of which the blade may be locked in any of its possible positions. Furthermore, I provide a construction in which the button .presents an imperforate top surface adapted to receive an imprint or insignia.

The invention will be mode readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the knife of my invention in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view in operating position;

Fig. 3 is a view considerably enlarged and with parts broken away to show the interior construction;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views, very greatly enlarged, on the line 6-'6 of Fig. 4, the Vparts being shown indifferent operating positions;

Fig 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a slightly modified form;

Figs. 8 and 9 are plan views showing a modied form of lock, the blade being in closed and partly opened positions respectively;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view very greatly enlarged, on the line lil-I0 of Fig. 9; and,

Fig. 1:1 is a sectional view von the line II-II of Fig. 8.

In the drawings I have illustrated a 'pocket knife having a handle I), preferably of some form of decorative molded-material, the handle having a longitudinal siot II therein. The knife blade has a cutting .portion I2and a rear or :shank portion I3, the latter portion having a punched out opening I4, in the forward end of which a flat spring I5 is interlocked, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The rear end of the spring I5 is adapted to swing yfreely in the opening I4 and carries a washer ILE adapted to act as a detent for engagement with the notches Il provided in a U-shaped metal lining I8 seated within the hollow handle. The tubular member has a slot I9 that registers with the slot II in the handle, the notches I'I appearing beneath the molded material of the handle, as best shown v'in the lefthand portion of Fig. 3.

The operating means for the blade includes a shank 2S) having a squared portion 2l and a threaded head 22. The lower extremity `23 of the shank is likewise threaded and slightly tapered and is seated tightly -in the washer I6 by means of a thin, at wrench that may be applied to the squared portion 2l.

The button is in the `form of a nut 24 having a threaded bore adapted to be engaged by the threaded head vof the shank, the nut being covered by a thin shell Z5, the lower edge 26 of which is crimped inward. In order to prevent the escape of the nut yby backing it off from the head 22, the margin 21 ofI the nut around the lower opening is turned in, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

yThis assembly is completed before the shank is seated in the operating portion, thus necessitating the provision of the squared portion on the shank 'for engagement by a wrench beneath the nut. However. this provides a surface on which insignia may be displayed, such as initials, emblems, etc., for identification.

In the construction shown in Fig. '7 all the foregoing parts remain the Same except that the nut 23 is not closed at its top and the threaded head 29 of the shank 3l) has a slot for engagement by a screw driver. By this means the shank is seated in the washer I6, thereby avoiding the necessity for the squared portion for engagement by a wrench. This, however, precludes the display of insignia on the top of the button.

In the position of Fig. 4 the button has been rotated and the blade is locked against outward movement. In the position of Fig. 5 the nut is in an elevated position ready to be depressed in order to slide the blade outwardly. The position of Fig. 6 is the same as in Fig. 4, the nut having been turned to clamp the detent in its locking position, thus preventing removal of the blade.

In the construction of Figs. 8 to 11 a lock is provided in which the action is that of a -thumb nut. The projecting portion is preferably cigarshaped and, in a position in which the blade may be caused to slide, the projecting portion lies parallel to the axis of the slot in the handle. In order to function as a lock the portion is swung cross-Wise of the slot, locking the detent against displacement.

In the construction shown in Figs. 8 to 11 all the parts except the locking element remain the same as before described. In this instance, however, the shank 3| which engages the nut I6 has a ange 32 at its upper end, the shank having a screw driver slot 33 in its upper end. The cross piece or actuating member 434 is preferably of elongated form having a recess 35 at its middle portion within which the shank and its ange 32 are received. Within the recess 35 a spring 36 is coniined, the upper portion of the spring abutting the ilange 32 while the lower end is held against escape by the inturned ilanges 31,

the spring being under slight compression. In

the positi-on of Fig. 9, the operating button lies within the tapered slot Il with suicient clearance to permit the button and shank to be depressed into the dotted line position of Fig. l0 in order to free the blade from its adjusted position, thus enabling it to be slid outward or inward, as desired. When however, the detent occupies any notch in the handle, the button 34 may be swung 90 into the position shown in Figs. 8 to 11, the curved sides of the button riding upward on the inclined sides of the slot. This will place the spring 3S under further `com-- pression and will so locate the button that it cannot be depressed to free the blade.

The construction just described provides a simple land practical locking device and in addition, furnishes an indication to the user as to whether the blade is locked or not, this feature being absent in the constructions shown in Figs. 1 to 7.

It will be noted that in all of the forms, the blade may readily be removed for replacement or repair or for replacement of the spring. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the shank is disconnected from the detent by wrench engagement of the squared portion, whereby the shank is backed out of the washer I 6. Thereafter the blade and its attached spring may be slipped out of the handle. In the construction of Fig. '7 and Figs. 8 to 11, the same result is accomplished by means of a small screw driver applied to the head of the shank.

I am aware that other modifications may be made than those shown in the drawings and I do not wish to be limited except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a knife having a hollow, slotted handle, and a blade adapted to slide in the handle, the combination of an operating button having a shank projecting into the slot in the handle and engaging the blade, and rotatable means in the connection between the button and the shank adapted to operate -to lock the blade in diierent positions in the handle.

2. In a knife having a hollow, slotted handle,

and a blade adapted to slide in the handle, the combination of an operating button having a shank projecting into the slot in the handle and engaging the blade, and screw means in the connection between the button and the shank adapted to operate to lock the blade in different positions in the handle. V

3. In a knife having a hollow, slotted handle provided with notches adjacent to said slot, and a blade adapted to slide in the handle, said blade having a spring actuated detent for engagement with said notches, the combination of a bladeoperating button having a shank projecting into the slot in the handle and engaging said detent for depressing the same to permit the blade to occupy different positions in the handle. and rotatable means associated with said button adapted to prevent the depressing of the button and thereby to lock the blade in different positions in the handle.

4. In a knife having a hollow, slotted handle provided with notches adjacent to said slot, and a blade adapted` to slidein the handle, said blade having a spring actuated detent for engagement with said notches, the combination of a bladeoperating button having a shank projecting into the slot in the handle and engaging said detent for depressing the same to permit the blade to occupy different positions in the handle, and screw means associated with said button adapted to prevent the depressing of the button and thereby to lock the blade in different positions in the handle.

5. In a knife having a hollow, slotted handle provided with notches adjacent to said slot, and a blade adapted to slide in the handle, the combination of a separate spring interlocked with the blade and carrying a detent for engagement with said notches, a blade-operating button having a shank projecting into the slot in the handle and engaging said detent for depressing the same to permit the blade to occupy diiferent positions in the handle, and screw means associated with said button adapted to prevent the depressing of the button and thereby to lock the blade in different positions in the handle.

6. In a knife having a hollow, slotted handle provided with notches adjacent to said slot, and a blade adapted to slide in the handle, the combination of a separate spring interlocked with the blade and carrying a detent for engagement with said notches, a blade-operating button having a shank projecting into the slot in the handle and engaging said detent for depressing the same to permit the blade to occupy different positions in the handle, and locking means associated with said button adapted to prevent the depressing of the button and thereby to lock the blade in different positions in the handle.

7. In a knife having a blade and a hollow, slotted handle provided with a plurality of notches adjacent the slot and said blade carrying a resilient detent, the combination of a shank projecting through the slot and engaging said detent and having a screw threaded head, and a button engaging said head and adapted to be rotated to lock the detent in any selected notch.

8. In a knife having a blade and a hollow, slotted handle provided with a plurality of notches adjacent the slot and said blade carrying a resilient detent, the combination of an operating button having a shank projecting into the slot and engaging the detent, said button having an imperforate upper face and having screw threaded engagement with the upper end of having a square portion near the upper end and having screw thread engagement with the button, said shank also having screw thread engagement with the detent, and being seated in the detent by wrench means applied to said squared portion.

` CHARLES R. KEERAN. 

